This, friends, is the final post for this (oh, what shall I call it?) series. I feel an emotional outburst coming on. *tears up* "flick!" Okay, I'm done. There is, actually, more of this. I sort of hint at it with the scene between James and Laurence, but none of that is typed up. For now, however, this is it. I've moved on, or back, to another piece. For now, please enjoy this final post in the series. Oh, and I will leave you all to speculate on just what, exactly, is the peanut trick.
James straightened his tie in the mens' bathroom of the church and appraised his final appearance in the mirror. He looked rather dapper, or at least he thought so. No wrinkles, no bulges, no dandruff. He sighed and took out the wedding photo of Arthur and Joanna taken that morning. They looked especially happy.
"So," said Laurence, sauntering in, "big day's finally here. Too bad I missed all the morning stuff. I hate pictures. Ah, well. Last night was great, wasn't it?"
"Where do you find the energy to be such a profligate?" asked James. "You have hardly any energy at all at work during the week, when you should be accomplishing something, anything."
"And because of that, I have plenty to party with. Say, I got a girl's number for you last night." Laurence handed him a slip of napkin. "She was really interested, but just in you. Believe me, I tried to tell her how boring you are, straight-laced and uptight; she just would not listen."
"Did you try the old peanut trick?" asked James.
"Of course. My best move."
"Yeah, that's probably why she ignored you."
"Come on, that's the ladies favorite. Everyone loves the peanut trick."
"Fascinating. You do know I'm not going to call her, right?"
"Yeah. So you can just give that right back."
"Its your funeral."
"I know. In the karma of dating, though, you get points for effort." Laurence spied the wedding photograph. "Is that from this morning?"
"Yeah. Someone had an old polaroid with them."
"Nice. They look good together. So, when will I be attending you nuptials?"
James laughed. "I did not expect to hear you say that, I really didn't. After all, you are the one who has helped me maintain my reputation all this time."
"Yes, but nothing lasts forever. And hey, I might need you to maintain my reputation one of these days. You know about all that friend in need crap."
Something about his tone made James ask, "Are you in trouble, Laurence?"
"No, definitely not. Well, actually," he amended, "there is something, but its more of a predicament. Nothing I can't handle on my own. " Laurence smiled and clapped his friend on the back. "Hey, we have a wedding to get to."
The seamstress helped Joanna with the final adjustments to her dress. Under the careful ministrations of the seamstress, she was being transformed into someone beautiful and younger than she herself truly was. For a woman only a few years shy of forty, she looked pretty good. Behind her, James loitered in the door.
"I said it this morning and I must say it again: you look beautiful." He stepped forward and kissed her on the cheek.
"You look good, too, now that you finally changed. Fitz does an excellent job."
"Turning caterpillars into butterflies since nineteen sixty. Works every time. Are you ready?" he asked waiting quietly for an answer.
She breathed deeply and replied, "Yes, I think I am."
He extended his arm, "Step lively, then."
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